He opened his eyes expecting morning.

Instead, he woke inside a story.

Not as the hero.
Not as the villain.
Not even as a supporting character.

He was reborn as a nameless extra — a background student who existed solely to fill space in a battle academy where legends would rise and tragedies would unfold.

And the worst part?

He had finished reading this novel just yesterday.

He knows who the protagonist is.
He knows where the hidden opportunities are.
He knows which disasters will reshape the academy.

And he has no intention of standing aside.

“I’ll take the protagonist’s chances for myself.”

“As for what happens to the main plot after that?”

“I don’t care.”

This is not the story of a hero.

This is the story of someone who chooses himself over fate.

No harem.
No righteous speeches.
No self-sacrifice for strangers.

Only ambition, calculated decisions, and the will to rise — no matter who gets left behind.

Let’s follow Rio and see how far selfishness can take him.

 Disclaimer
This is a lightly edited transcription for personal listening purposes.
I do not own the original work or any referenced material.
If the original creator wishes for it to be taken down, please contact me directly.

[This is not a chapter, but an introduction. You may treat it as an extra chapter.]


Every rank is divided into early (S−), middle (S), and peak (S+) stages.


The lowest rank for any creature, regardless of race.


Every newly awakened individual starts here,except for powerful races (such as dragons) and extremely talented individuals (like Link Rex, the villain), who are born directly at Rank E.


The highest stage a talentless awakener can reach.


(This was Fade's original talent potential before awakening his system.)


Achievable through modest talent and hard work.


(Most students are currently in this rank.)


Talent remains the dominant factor, though hard work is still necessary.


(Lia, Kira, and the other top ten students are currently in this rank.)


Only one out of every 500 awakeners is born with C-rank talent.


(This was Rio's original talent potential.)


A major bottleneck appears after Rank C, requiring intense effort and suitable conditions to break through.


Rank B enables qualitative improvements to an awakener's stats.


(Rio is currently stuck here, with all stats capped at 50,this is the reason.)


Conditions for AdvancementYour main technique must be at Rank B


(Rio's stats are currently capped at 50)


Talent potential must be Rank B or higher


Only one out of every fifty thousand B-rank awakeners reaches this level,assuming they possess sufficient talent.


There are no specific advancement conditions.


A major leap in a creature's journey of strength.


Upon entering this realm, one can break racial limits.


(For example, the racial stat limit for humans is 100.)


Conditions for AdvancementAll stats must be maxed


The main technique must already be at Rank S


Talent potential must be Rank S or higher


The individual must endure the extreme pain caused by racial evolution


(Most awakeners die during this process.)


The current peak of power in this world.


Only three individuals of the human race have reached this rank.


They possess enough power to destroy an entire continent single-handedly.


Such beings are already considered demigods.


Conditions for AdvancementEnduring extreme pain caused by breaking bodily limits and improving mana quality


All stats must be maxed after reaching Rank S


The main technique must already be at Rank SS


(This is the primary reason SS-rank individuals are so rare,only one or two appear in a race over several hundred years.)


No individual has reached this rank so far.


(According to the novel Rio read, Link Rex possessed the talent potential to reach this rank,but he died at Fade's hands before achieving it.)


Chapter 32 - Power Intro! (Skippable)